Getting your credit report Receive copies of your credit report(s). Everyone is guaranteed one free report per year from each of the main credit reporting agencies. They are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Federal law guarantees this right. You receive your free credit reports through a centralized source, order online by visiting: annualcreditreport.com To make your request by phone just call 877-322-8228. You can also complete the form using the back of the Annual Credit Report Request brochure, then mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Three other opportunities to receive a free copy of your credit report:
* Did you apply for a loan and were turned down. Then you are allowed to make a request for a copy by writing the correct credit bureau within 60 days of your rejection. With sending your request, it is good practice to include a copy of the declined loan application. * When unemployed, you are also eligible to recieve a free report if you plan to apply for a job(s) in the next 60 days, receiving public welfare assistance. If you know or believe your credit file contains mistakes as a result of fraud, this too makes you eligble for a free report. * By now most to all of the states already offer a anyone a free annual credit report from each of the three agencies. Residents of Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont are entitled to one free series annually. Georgia residents are entitled to two free annual credit reports from each credit reporting agency. * You should go online to check for the rules that regulate your state.
Once you get the report, you should make sure the following information is correct and it is a must do - to Double-check the following list of items:
* Name or names correct, if you are or were married, divorced with name change is it reflected * Social Security number correct * Date of birth correct * Addresses of places you've lived correct * Names of places you worked and dates if listed correct * Pending accounts and accounts that have been closed, are all listed and with correct info * Records of delinquent payments or other problems, be sure to check for incorrect information and mistakes that can affect you adversely
Then, you want to be sure nothing has been on your credit report longer than legally allowed by law:
* The Used-by dates gives a list of the dates the card was last used * Check that if you have an Authorized user that it is listed as such or a secondary, etc.
* Bankruptcies are to be taken off your credit file history after 10 years. * Tax liens, Judgements, Suits, and most other kinds of unfavorable financial information are to be dropped after seven years. Any, Unpaid Tax Liens, can remain on the report for up to 15 years.
When requesting your credit report, make sure to get all of them to check for accuracy and that they all have the same info on the ones that have the same listings. Be aware that not all retailers, etc. report to all credit bureaus. Just be sure the one's that are on each one, state the same information so there are no discrepancies that can hinder you if you were to go for a Mortgage Loan, a Vehicle Loan, a Business Loan, a Credit Card or any kind of loan for that matter. These things and others lenders check for and you do not need any snags at the time you are about to make your big decision. So with a little time and work if needed, you can make sure that your credit report is in tip top shape. Unless, of course, you have legitimate delinquencies, then there is nothing but paying them that can fix that. I hope this gives you an idea of what to look for when getting your credit report and that it is of utmost importance to report an discrepancies right of way to the corresponding credit reporting bureau. If there are mistakes, they can be taken off by the bureau, if you find there is fraudulent activity, you need to report this to the Credit Reporting Bureau right of way and you will need to find out their procedure for filing a fraud case.
Disclaimer: This is not legal or professional advice, however, it is common sense advice that I hope it useful to you.